Sarah M.'s
Best pizza
- 15Pizza is an absolute guilty pleasure of mine and Sals have won me over with their New York style classic cheese. This is pizza by the slice at it’s absolute best, pizza how it was meant to be eaten, oozing with cheesy goodness. I’m going to have to say that if you are a vegetarian like I am I would forget about trying to get all fancy with the mushroom and capsicum. It’s good but really it just takes away from the flavour of the cheese and why on earth would you want to do that? I’m drooling just thinking about it, so less talking, more walking, I’m off to pick up a slice.
- 230Il BucoPonsonbyItalian’s are known for their smooth talking, passionate men who know how to woo the ladies. If that creeps you out a little, never fear because they are also known for their pizza. If you are used to vegetarian pizza looking like a cheesy mess with a few tomatoes thrown on then you need Il Buco in your life. This is pizza by the slice - Italian style. This cute little store will transport you the cobbled streets of Rome, you would be forgiven for forgetting you are on Ponsonby Road. There are a few options to win you over, the potato and rosemary is amazing so why not start there?
- 322Pane & VinoPonsonbyIf you are used to pizza that is luke warm with a cardboard base topped with ingredients that should have been thrown in the bin then you need Pane & Vino in your life. As someone who has eaten copious amounts of pizza in her lifetime trust me when I tell you that this place is good, it’s really good, in fact, they are kind of the best in town. Even their classic margarita pizza will blow your mind, so simple and yet so so decadent. If you decide to make an evening of it and eat at the restaurant you are in for a treat, the atmosphere puts Pane & Vino above the rest. Their waiters are gorgeous and ridiculously friendly, the compliments flow from their lips like expensive wine. It pays to book a table because they are so popular that they are always packed - yep it’s just that good.
- 456Gina's Italian KitchenNewtonWhere do I even start with Gina’s? This little restaurant has a big reputation and rightly so. I organised a surprise birthday dinner for my partner which I mentioned to our waiter and next thing you know three shirtless Italian men come walking out of the kitchen singing at the top of their lungs, birthday cake in hand. This is a sight to make any girl blush! When you go to an Italian restaurant what you are really going for is the atmosphere, Gina’s hands down has an atmosphere like no other. Possibly a little known fact but they also do pizza to takeaway too, give them a call next time you are after a Friday night slice.
- 520Toto' PizzaAuckland CentralToto’s is the creme de la creme of pizza. You need to prepare yourself for this. Take a deep breath, you will need it, oh and I recommend not eating for at least the whole day beforehand. Pizza’s by the meter. Yes that’s right, by the metre. This is pizza for the connoisseur, or at the very least for the house full of friends who need a bit of sobering up. Don’t bother wasting a Toto’s pizza on anyone who’s in need of bed rather than food, there is nothing worse then someone who can’t appreciate a good thing when it’s swirling around in their stomach. Don’t think twice, just pick up the phone and remember to breathe.
Sarah M.'s
Best grab and go inner city lunches
- 12Roll Black SushiAuckland CentralI have such fond memories of Roll Black Sushi. As a poor uni student I used to walk down and pick myself up some delicious Japanese for lunch. Rather than force you into buying pre packaged sushi, everything here is sold by the piece - perfect for when you only have $4 in your pocket and in need of a quick lunch! I tell everyone about their kumara and avocado sushi - it’s freaking amazing and you should try it out, take your taste buds for a ride. They cater for vegetarians like myself who aren’t so keen on sushi with a little bit of carrot and lettuce thrown in and are more imaginative then cream cheese and pineapple (is that even traditional - I think not)
- 25Sliced Lunch BarGrey LynnIf you had ever thought that sandwiches were lame and were only for the 40 year old office guy who still lives with his mum then I’m going to say that you are potentially too cool for your own good. Seriously, sandwiches are where it’s at. You don’t need fancy exotic lunch options to be the envy of your workmates, you just need a Sliced sandwich. This is next level sandwich making, with gourmet ingredients and fresh artisan bread. These are sandwiches that would put a 1950’s housewife to shame. The best part is, you can have exactly what you want in it because they make it from scratch, ok so maybe not the bread, but the rest of it… from scratch!
- 315Pita Pit St LukesMt AlbertI would describe Pita Pita as a cross between a kebab and a wrap. You may be thinking a Pita is that really thick pocket bread, or perhaps a certain boy next store. You are probably right, which is nice. The pita I’m thinking of has a lot less carbs and a lot less bodily function. It’s basically just really amazing and healthy and you should try it. Don’t be afraid to ask for extra aoili on your pita, it’s really tasty and you won’t regret it. Oh and I would recommend you go for toasted rather than fresh, a little bit of crispy bread can go a long way. Always remember, don’t compare Pita Pit to Subway - they are not even in close to bring in the same category, shame on you.
- 427Revive Lorne StreetAuckland CentralHave you ever caught the bus and seen the Revive coupon on the back of your ticket? Well my friend, you have been throwing away a little golden ticket because the salads at Revive are like no other. Salad has come a long way since you were a little kid and your mum threw together some lettuce, tomato and cucumber. These salads are ridiculously good, and good for you too. They have a hot and cold selection, so whatever the weather you are sorted. They can get quite busy at lunchtime so I would suggest sneaking out a little earier than usual to get your lunchtime fix.
- 527Are you hungry? Really really hungry? Are you also working to a tight budget? Congratulations, you have just stumbled upon the very best place to pick up lunch in the inner city. This is food to warm your heart and soul, this food made with love. It is the perfect food to share so make sure you take a workmate and enjoy your meal together, share the love.
Sarah M.'s
Best dress ups/costume stores
- 119First Scene Costume & Party HireKingslandI walked into First Scene with a little bit of an unusual ask. After trying my hand at becoming a drag king, and successfully mastering the art of the mustache I thought I would try my hand at becoming the fabulous Diana Wonder. A little lady like myself attempting to convince people I’m a drag queen is a difficult task, no seriously, it’s really hard. The team at First Scene were awesome, not only did they find me an amazingly over the top sparkly dress but an over the top wig and heels to really push the limits. Trust me, pretending to be a man who’s pretending to be a woman is not as easy as chucking on any old dress and heels! If you’re after something a little more on the bizarre end of things then these guys are your team! Best range of moustaches around too!
- 27Costume MagicPonsonbyCostume Magic is jam packed full of goodness, don’t let looks be deceiving, there is much more to this place than meets the eye. Not everyone feels comfortable waering a Donald Duck costume complete with webbed feet, tail and cartoon head, and that’s ok, there are costumes for those who are a little less shy and who aren’t in it to win it too. Personally how could you not want to be the life of the party and go dressed as a teletubby - in a non creepy way?! My personal favourite is the giant tabasco sauce bottle, maybe not so great for shaking your booty but you’re bound to look smoking hot (did I really just write that?)
- 33Looksharp StoreAuckland CentralSo you are throwing a flat warming party and not only do you have to pimp out your new crib with a blow up paddling pool, pinata and an inflatable palm tree but you need to find something to wear that goes with your theme - characters from movies that happen to die in the first scene. Never fear, all of your ridiculous problems will be solved with a trip to Look Sharp. Super cheap and full of amazing party supplies, you must check it out! Forget about that big screen TV your mates have, your flat warming is bound to make all of the rival flats jealous.
- 46David's Emporium AucklandManukau CityOk so there are a lot of little Auckland suburbs boasting their own emporiums - I know this because I find myself constantly in heated discussions with friends about which one is best. If you put aside the hometown pride and look at things objectively then without a doubt you too would agree that David’s Emporium wins hands down. Check out their awesome selection of wigs and odd bits whenever you are next in need of a throw together outfit for a themed party. Their range of costumes will put all other emporiums to shame - its huge. Check them out!
Sarah M.'s
The best outlet stores
- 1114oz Jeans Store - KingslandKingslandI may look like I buy expensive jeans, but I’ll let you in on a little secret – I buy all of my denim from the Lee Outlet Store. So technically yes there is an expensive pair of jeans hugging my thighs but I certainly didn’t pay half as much as what they retail for. Check them out next time you are searching for that cut from a couple of seasons ago that became your favourite just as they pulled them off the racks. Cry no more – you’ll even be able to afford two pairs instead of one. Winning!
- 23Kingsland Skate OutletKingslandShoes. That’s all I can say, so many shoes. Have really big feet and find it hard to track down a pair of skate shoes? Look no further. Have really little feet and you are forced to shop in the kid’s section? Look no further. As well as a sweet selection of tee’s, this shop will become your new summer time outlet store. Those sunny days are so close I can taste the sunscreen.
- 36Bendon Outlet Store - PukekohePukekoheWell what more can I say about the Bendon Outlet store then it’s the only place to go when you need a little bit more va va voom in your life. The key to feeling sexy is to start with sexy lingerie, my favourite has always been the Elle Macpherson Intimates range , the only problem is when you are a student it’s a little hard to justify $100 on a bra. This is where you need to play your cards right and head along to the Bendon Outlet – even students need to feel sexy as they are slaving away over that assignment due tomorrow morning.
- 436Dress-Smart Outlet ShoppingOnehungaWhy go to just one outlet when you can go to a mall full of them? Before you head to you local Westfield and fill your wardrobe with new season gear, head over to Dressmart and check out last season’s treasures and rock bottom prices. This is the perfect place to shop when you are heading overseas to a wintery wonderland and all of the kiwi shops are stocking bikinis and jandals.
- 51Fox Outlet CentreNorthcoteLooking for an outlet store over the shore? If you haven’t been to the Fox Outlet Centre before, make sure to put it on your list of things to do. One of my main reasons to get off the motorway at Northcote is to make a stop by the Pack & Pedal outlet. With up to 70% off it’s the perfect place to spend that money your nana slipped into her annual five page Christmas letter.
Sarah M.'s
Where to find the best hot chocolates
- 19Craven AAuckland CentralCraven A make the best hot chocolates in town and I’m telling you this as a hot chocolate connoisseur and as someone who spent the last of my measly student income on buying one every day of the week. Yep they are that good. I don’t know how they do it, I have spent hours trying to work out what their secret weapon is. Ask me if they use powder or syrup and I would have no idea, because when it’s tastes this good you don’t question the barista.
- 216Toru CafePonsonbyI was a little surprised when my friend suggested we got our weekly hot chocolates from Toru. But never again will I question his hot chocolate decision making skills. We went to the counter and the staff told us that they not only had Belgium hot chocolate but that they had 72% valrhona dark hot chocolate. Yes I admit, just as you probably are thinking, I had no idea what valrhona was but I am a sucker for dark chocolate and they had me sold. This was like nothing I had ever had before, a velvety dark and smooth milky drink like no other, this is the future of hot chocolates.
- 315TheatreNewtonWhen I find a cafe that makes a decent hot chocolate I soon become a regular. I’m one of those annoying people who can walk up to the counter and not say a word but just pay for my regular weekday indulgence and be on my way (usually when you are this much of a regular your drink is even made for you before you can finish paying) Theatre make a really good hot chocolate, never too rich or too milky, always just the right temperature and always served with a smile. If you are a fan of a bit of the old chocolate drink then check them out!
- 432The Hardware CafeTitirangiTake a weekend drive out to the Hardware Cafe and pick up a hot drink before you head out to watch the waves roll in on your favourite West Coast beach. This little cafe makes a mighty fine hot chocolate and is the perfect place to stop in and recharge on your way out to the coast. The staff are super friendly and will make you feel right at home, it also happens to be the perfect spot for people watching - one of my all time favourite past times.
- 514Eighthirty Coffee RoastersNewtonEight Thirty make a really smooth and delicious hot chocolate, you will want to make time in your morning to stop in and pick one up before you start your day. Sometimes it can be a little embarrassing ordering a hot chocolate at a coffee roasters but this is the time to put those fears aside, be proud of your chocolate persuasion, bite the bullet and just do it because once you take a sip you will be in chocolate milk heaven.
Sarah M.'s
Where to look at art
- 17Te Tuhi Centre for the ArtsPakuranga, Bucklands BeachTe Tuhi is a space that has hosted an amazing array of contemporary exhibitions but still manages to distance itself from the swanky art vibe which can be off putting to the wider community. Not only is their main gallery space accessible to the general public but they pride themselves in creating a space which encourages community participation and engagement. This is a community space with heart and soul, this is what a centre for the arts is all about.
- 24Papakura Art GalleryPapakuraPerhaps one of the more accessible art spaces in Auckland, the Papakura Gallery draws from its local roots and hold it’s own in the art world. It may be one of the smaller spaces around but I always leave the gallery feeling more inspired then after any other gallery visit. As a Papakura girl at heart I can’t speak more highly of this little space and over the years I have seen it grow into the amazing gallery that it is today #proud.
- 37ArtspaceNewtonI have certainly been to my fair share of exhibition openings at Artspace and even as a poor student it was never the free food and wine that brought me back. Ok so maybe that played a tiny roll in it. Artspace time and time again blows my mind. I love walking into an exhibition which is going to challenge the way I look at the world, the way I feel about life, the way I smell the roses. This place cultivates innovative art practices and promotes risk taking, which in my books is what art is all about. Push your boundaries, go and check out some thought provoking and perhaps slightly a little left of centre art.
- 42Two RoomsNewtonGenerally as a rule of thumb when a gallery is a little hard to find it’s worth looking for. That rule applies for Two Rooms, hidden on a side street just off Great North Road it doesn’t seem like the type of place to get your art fix. Looks can be deceiving, we all know that. The first exhibition I saw here was the stunning photographs of Frank Schwere as part of the Festival of Photography, if you are in to photography then head to google and check him out. I love going to a gallery space and feeling like its a second home, space to contemplate and to pace back and forth. Two Rooms is a second home and never fails to get the brain ticking over.
- 52St Paul St GalleryAuckland CentralSt Paul St boasts three gallery spaces and a long history of innovative and captivating exhibitions. During the middle of the year the third gallery space on Symonds Street hosts student pilot shows every week, openings are on Wednesday nights and as a veteran pilot show opening attendee I know that every week brings something new to the table. Did I mention that students know how to put on a really good opening night spread? Make sure you turn up early though otherwise you’ll be walking around withl a rumbling stomach and we all know that its easier to appreciate art with a wine glass in hand and something to nibble on.